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2009-2010 Boys BasketballWeek-11, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(02-11-2010) |
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2009-2010 Boys BasketballWeek-11, Top-10 PollA USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith(02-11-2010) |
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VALPARAISO (02-15-2010) Little has
changed in the last couple of weeks as Valparaiso, Munster. Boone Grove and
Wheeler have come back to the front of Northwest Indiana's real conferences.
Let's be honest. It's hard to call four teams in Hammond or four teams in
Gary a conference and since those two towns won't or can't get together and form
a city league, both will continue to drift into the basement of region
basketball.
In the talk of Wheeler being the eighth team in the Northwest Crossroads
Conference, an interesting alternative came to mind. Assuming that eight
teams are perfect for scheduling and tournament play in a conference, what would
be the problem with Bowman Academy being the eighth NW Crossroads team?
Bowman is the top-ranked Class 1A school, but that is highly misleading.
Bowman will probably have over 600 students next year. There were
classified as a 1A school when they had no juniors or seniors and they will be
2A or 3A the next time schools are ranked due to enrollment. Bowman is not
the typical Gary school. They have up-and-coming teams in most sports.
At track meets and cross country events this past year, you were easily able to
note the Maroon (a crispy brown) and White Bowman school colors in the field.
Bowman is vastly improved in football and basketball. They do have a
developing baseball team. The Eagles seem to have a capacity for
significant growth and they may eventually be the size of Andrean. The big
thing about Bowman, compared to the other Gary schools, is that Bowman seems to
WANT to compete in all sports. Lew Wallace, Roosevelt and West Side simply
make little effort in some sports and are happy with that.
The Bowman-Andrean match ups could grow to rivalry status and Bowman boys
basketball would pay some bills at the other NWC schools. Imagine a
Bowman-Munster boys basketball game and the crowd that would draw in Bowman's
new gym?
What about football? Well, with a 3-year-old program, Bowman was 5-6 last
year, defeating Bishop Noll and taking Class 4A East Chicago into overtime.
Very soon, Bowman will be playing well enough to compete with Highland and
Kankakee Valley.
Talk of Wheeler being the eighth NWCC team makes sense and they have good
facilities. But as time goes by, the thought of Bowman in that league will
arise. Basically, there is no league in Gary or Hammond anymore and the
Gary schools won't play Bowman anyway. In time, Bowman will eventually be
a larger school than Wheeler as Gary students defect from the traditional public
schools. Hanover Central will soon be 3A, but Hanover does not have a
football program and that's a deal-breaker financially for conference
affiliation. Stay tuned.
With the draw coming out in a few days, it's time to see what's on everyone's
wish list.
1.
(4A) Valparaiso (16-1)
2009 (20-4), 2008 (11-14), 2007
(23-3), 2006 (21-3), 22-3 (2005)
VALPARAISO: Valparaiso is rated
third in Class 4A state wide and they are a strong No. 1 in this poll.
Brad Karp (14.1 ppg.) is the Vikings' only double-figure scorer and the Valpo
defense has allowed just 45 points per game, while building a second eight-game
winning streak since a 65-62 neutral site holiday loss to Carmel (13-5).
Valpo is a win at Merrillville (13-3) on Feb. 19 away from a 14-0 sweep in
league play. I know Bowman is undefeated, but Bowman doesn't play
Northwest Indiana teams. And Bowman doesn't play 19 4A schools like Valpo
does. That's the bottom line.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? Hobart. The Brickies cannot beat
Valpo. The Vikings have played everyone else in 4A Sectional 2 twice
already. But VHS isn't going to worry about who they draw. It's more
about who draws them.
2. (4A) Munster (15-2)
2009 (24-2), 2008 (16-6), 2007 (21-4), 2006 (20-4), 2005 (16-8)
MUNSTER: Same thing as Valparaiso. Munster has lost Mt. Vernon (14-2) and Valparaiso (16-1). The Mustangs will sweep the title in the Northwest Crossroads Conference and they have won 15 games by 10 points or more against a schedule you can verify. This Munster senior class is 55-10 the last three years and that factors into where you rate them. The Mustangs have defeated 4A powers LC, Merrillville and East Chicago and that may be an issue when the draw comes out. But it's very hard to rate Bowman ahead of Munster when your poll is a Northwest Indiana poll.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? Lowell. Munster has not lost to Lowell in nine years and the Devils may still be without top scorer Austin Richie (28.1 ppg.). The Mustangs don't really need a bye.
3. (1A) Bowman Academy (16-0)
2009 (19-4), 2008 (7-7)
GARY: Bowman topped Bishop Luers
90-82 to remain undefeated against the world, but any judgement of them is just
a total guess. In basketball, everyone truly believes they soar above the
common folks in intelligence because they coach, play or watch basketball games.
But I can't tell you how you can rate a team No. 1 in an area when they have not
played any of the teams in that area. I cannot explain it. Can't
begin to. The 'Academy' gets close to Northwest Indiana when they face a
decent Culver Academy team on Feb. 12 and they play at East Chicago on Feb. 23.
I think Bowman is about third best in this area but until they play someone on
this side of the planet, I truly have no idea.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? Anyone but Morgan Township. The
Cherokees can play the stall game that Bowman has not seen this year.
Bowman wants Morgan to play a couple of times because the Eagles can get a hold
of them. Bowman in a 3A school playing in the 1A bracket. They don't
need a bye.
4. (4A) East Chicago (12-2)
2009 (14-8), 2008 (20-4), 2007 (23-3), 2006 (19-5)
EAST CHICAGO: A 58-48 loss to South Bend Adams (6-1) opened some eyes about EC, but the Cardinals came back to stop Lake Central (11-5) by 10 points. Snow cancelled the game with Lew Wallace. I'm beginning to have some doubts here because EC is a little limp-wristed. The Cardinals have won nine games by 10 points or less and they don't play the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers. EC should be more impressive than they are. With Bowman and Lawrence North on the schedule, EC will have five losses before the post-season the way they are going.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? Munster. EC doesn't want to play Munster at the end of a three-game sectional week. The Cardinals want them right away on their home floor. Assuming they must defeat Munster (and they must) to win 4A Sectional One, play them immediately.
5. (4A) Lew Wallace (12-4)
2009 (14-7), 2008 (13-11), 2007 (5-17), 2006 (4-17)
GARY: Wallace is another world traveler that plays just four Lake or Porter County teams all season. The LW-East Chicago game was postponed and then cancelled. The Hornets' four losses are all to Illinois schools, which would matter only if Wallace was entered in the Illinois state tournament. Here's another case of where any ranking of this team is a guess. I've seen them and I don't know where to rank them. I would guess they are faster than Merrillville, but less disciplined than Bowman. I would also guess that Jay Leno is better than Conan O'Brien, but worse than David Letterman.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? A bye. Wallace is a team that missed a lot of free throws and that kind of team could lose to anyone. In a 5-team sectional (Class 3A, Sectional 17), LW needs one of those byes.
6. (4A) Merrillville (13-3)
2009 (16-6), 2008 (16-5), 2007 (13-9), 2006 (17-4), 2005 (18-4), 2004 (9-12)
MERRILLVILLE: The Pirates are formidable as underclassmen 6-foot-8 Edward Seay and 6-foot-4 Tokumbo Fashawe improve, so losses to Valparaiso, Lake Central and Munster can be overlooked. I like their speed but I haven't seen the defense that the Pirates have played in past years. The kind they'll need to get past Valparaiso. That's the problem with the Pirates. To win the DAC (they meet on Feb. 19), they have to beat Valpo and to win 4A Sectional 2 they have to beat Valpo. It's hard to see that happening right now.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? See: Valparaiso (above). Hobart. The Brickies cannot defeat Merrillville this year. The Pirates would be uneasy about facing Crown Point a third time.
7. (2A) BOONE GROVE (12-4)
2009 (13-7), 2008 (12-10), 2007 (11-12), 2006 (18-6), 2005 (19-7)
PORTER TOWNSHIP: Boone Grove
rallied from a loss at the PCC tournament with wins over Hanover Central (14-3)
and 4A Crown Point. Boone is 2-2 against 4A schools with two more to play.
Michael Eleftheri (15.9 ppg.), Ryan Reynolds (16.0 ppg.) and Wayland Roach (10.3
ppg.) give the Wolves the points they need, but to buy into Boone you have to
believe that a group of seniors (8) that have always played together can
overcome superior teams at the small school level. That's the Indiana
basketball tradition. Boone is largely ignored in this area because of
where the school sits in south Porter County. Most folks in NW Indiana
don't know where Boone Grove is. But they are three or four playoff wins
away from attracting a lot of attention.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? North Judson. Boone Grove has
played a vastly superior schedule to North Judson and they might want to take
them on right away. Boone hosts 2A Sectional 34, so travel isn't an issue.
The Wolves probably don't want to have 10 days off so they don't need a bye.
8. (4A) Lake Central
(11-5)
2009 (15-6), 2008 (9-12), 2007 (13-9), 2006 (7-14)
ST. JOHN: The Indians had a 6-game winning streak stopped in a 61-51 loss to East Chicago, a defeat that puts serious questions on their chances to win 4A Sectional One. LC has lost to Munster and EC by 10 points. The favorites in 4A Sectional One are Munster and EC. The girls tournament weather postponements may move the LC-Valpo game from Feb. 11 to Feb 12. LC's schedule (19 4A schools) is impressive and it's been a good season, but like Merrillville looking up at Valpo, you're going to have to explain to me how LC gets by EC and Munster.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? LC needs help. They need to be in the opposite bracket from Munster and East Chicago. The Indians could use that bye in the seven-team 4A Sectional 1, but they could win three times in five days. Depending on who those three foes are.
9. (2A) Wheeler (16-1)
2009 (21-4) 2008 (16-6), 2007 (17-6),
2006 (19-6)
UNION TOWNSHIP: The Bearcats won the Greater South Shore Conference title easily behind 6-foot-5 Andrew Rudakas (15.7 ppg.), 6-foot-5 Petr Todorovic (12.3 ppg.), 6-foot-3 Naje Bailey (12.3 ppg.) plus 6-foot-7 newcomer Aleksa Kojcinovic (8.8). Senior guard Donnie Ketchum (8.3 ppg.) leads the way. Wheeler needs a good draw because they don't want to play Bishop Noll (13-2) and Hanover Central (14-3) on back-to-back nights. The rumored move of Wheeler to the Northwest Crossroads Conference would be questionable in football but it would be a God send for basketball. Wheeler would have played Munster for the league this year in front of a turn away crowd. As it is I can guarantee you that Wheeler will win their final four and finish at 20-1.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? A bye. It's not a lot to ask in the five-team 2A Sectional 33, but Wheeler does not need to be the team that plays three games while three other teams potentially, play only two.
10. (2A) Hanover Central (14-3)
2009 (9-11) 2008 (11-11), 2007 (9-11), 2006 (7-14)
CEDAR LAKE: The Hanover victory train was derailed at 11 in a row by Morgan Township (10-4) and Boone Grove (12-4). The Wildcats got a 10-day break in the schedule this month and it will be interesting to see how they play when they return on Feb. 16 against Whiting. HC has wins over Gary Roosevelt (9-6), Boone Grove (12-4) and two wins over South Central (11-6). The Cats would like to finish at 18-3, but River Forest (9-6) stands in the way on the final day of the season.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? A bye. The big day for Hanover, though, is Sunday, Feb. 21. That's because the state tournament draw (including 2A Sectional 33) will be announced that night at 5:00 p.m. HC hasn't won a sectional in 24 years and a bye puts them just two games away.
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN...
(2A) Bishop Noll (14-2)
2009 (13-9), 2008 (19-5), 2007 (9-13),
2006 (6-15)
HAMMOND: Bishop Noll is still undefeated against everyone but Wheeler. Noll has lost twice to the Bearcats and both losses have been decisive. That's a problem because they may draw Wheeler on Feb. 21. Despite their record, Noll must get a draw that does not require them to play BOTH Hanover and Wheeler. You don't want to dismiss them. But this is a strong year in this area and some bright, shiny teams are going into the mud very quickly once the state tournament begins.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO DRAW? See: Hanover and Wheeler (above). In the 5-team, 2A Sectional 33, everybody wants that first round bye.